"What is your opinion on undershirts? I often wear them under my shirts."
I didn't think we would ever bring it up, but as the question has come up quite regularly in recent months, let's look into the subject.
This is a fairly fitted underwear (t-shirt or tank top) that is worn as a first layer, often under a shirt.
We also sometimes speak of “skin knitting” or “body knitting”.
Zimmerli model
Wear an undershirt when it's hot?
At first glance, wearing this item of clothing when it's hot is paradoxical: why add an extra layer when the temperature is already high?
The reason is simple: it is not there to sweat less or feel less hot , but more to absorb perspiration instead of the shirt and thus avoid marks under the arms and other bad odors.
This item of clothing is therefore useful in extreme cases: I'm talking about people who quickly stain their shirts or who very quickly end up swimming in them.
Yes, the undershirt will make you warmer.
Yes, it will often be seen through transparency.
On the other hand, it can save your (shirt)sit.
Although it is not the most beautiful effect, wearing an undershirt can be justified. Source: Undershirtguy
However, in cases that are not extreme, this garment does not have much use in our opinion. And don't wear it if it means you can wear your shirts several times in a row without washing them .
Need a little refresher on how to take care of your clothes? Benoît's advice here .
What to do about sweating?
"I don't sweat tons, but it's still complicated when it's hot. What alternative do you suggest to an undershirt?"
If it's hot and you want to look presentable in a shirt: wear the right materials.
Linen is ideal in summer , for example. If you find linen too casual, take cotton/linen shirts: cotton limits wrinkling and linen provides lightness and freshness.
A white shirt dressed in linen and cotton at Hast .
You can also choose light cotton voiles or seersucker .
Also, do not take your shirts too tight , to let air pass between your skin and your clothing.
And if you must wear a jacket: choose it in a light material, with little or no structure, little or no lining.
A light jacket to limit sweating as much as possible.
If you have yellow stains under the armpits of certain shirts: use a K2R type stain remover.
You will easily find this type of product on the market.
What brands for an undershirt that keeps you cool?
- Uniqlo Airism range. Despite Benoît's reservations mentioned here , the brand has its place for this type of entry-level product.
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Seagale . Tencel/merino/elastane models are rather light
- Ex Officio , American outdoor clothing brand, validated by Benoît
- Derek Rose . The micro-modal on their boxers won over Nicolò during his comparison . For a t-shirt, it works too.
- Zimmerli , a brand also mentioned in detail in the comparison of boxers .
Micromodal is a fine, fluid, comfortable material with interesting technical properties. Model Derek Rose .
Wear an undershirt when it's cold?
Wearing an undershirt in winter serves another purpose: that of being warm, more than with a simple cotton t-shirt or a poplin shirt that is cold against the skin.
In this configuration, we would rather advise you to wear a merino wool t-shirt, whose properties are superior to a synthetic material t-shirt, as Michel explained well in the article on his visit to the workshop by Reda .
- It is the material that least retains bad odors
- It insulates heat in winter and protects you from it in summer
- It keeps you dry by absorbing perspiration
Futuristic, quick-drying synthetic breath-regulating membranes, anti-bacterial chemical treatments... man has pulled out all the stops to try to reproduce the magic of merino.
And so far it has been without real success. No other fiber has been able to reproduce all of these properties with the same efficiency.
For our t-shirt recommendations
Hands down victory for merino.
